November 18, 2017 @ 1:00 pm - 4:00 pm

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Hidden City rarely ventures beyond the confines of Philadelphia but when there’s a building as stunning as the Third Presbyterian Church in Chester we’ll happily make an exception. The main sanctuary is an architectural marvel, with a rotunda based upon the dome of the Cathedral of Florence designed by Filippo Brunelleschi. There’s a second rotunda in the adjacent Sunday School building, which also features an elegant circular balcony and an enormous bank of oak-and-glass walls. Finally, there’s a modern addition, with classrooms that still have books on the shelves and posters on the wall. You can learn more about the church’s history here.

Third Presbyterian is currently vacant, and and has no electricity, heat or plumbing. It is in a moderate state of decay, which brings us to our second reason for venturing outside Philadelphia. Once slated for demolition, the building was purchased by the Chester Historical Preservation Committee, which has done yeoman’s work stabilizing the structure. They need all the help they can get, however, so we’ll be donating half of ticket sales to the group. A volunteer will talk with us about the church’s history and future prospects.

The complex of church buildings provides a fascinating photographic challenge. The lack of electricity means that there are extremes of dark and light to navigate, while retaining the beauty of the stained glass windows. It’s difficult but not impossible and Pete Woodall will be on hand to provide instruction for those that want it. Pete is the co-founder of the Hidden City Daily and the photographer for Extant, the magazine of the Preservation Alliance of Greater Philadelphia. Participants should have their own camera with manual controls (digital or analog). A tripod is strongly recommended. All levels of experience are welcome.

This workshop will be limited to 12 people. Don’t miss this opportunity to photograph one of the region’s most spectacular buildings!

Details

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TOUR POLICIES

Reservations
Reservations aren't required but are strongly recommended because most of our tours sell out in advance. Reserving a space is easy! Just click the “purchase tickets” button. If there are still spaces left for a tour, you can show up and pay in person without registering. However, please note: We can’t guarantee you a space if you don’t pay in advance. Payments must be made via cash or personal check. We apologize for the inconvenience.

Inclement Weather
Hidden City presents tours rain or shine, with the exception of heavy rain or thunderstorms. In the event of a cancellation, we'll notify you by email the night before. You’re welcome to request a refund at that time or register for a future tour.

Refund & Exchange Policy*
You can cancel up to 48 hours in advance by contacting Peter Woodall at pwoodall@hiddencityphila.org. You can also reschedule your reservation, if another date is available, Please provide: 1) full name and the names of any guests 2) whether you’re a member or not 3) date of current reservation and, if appropriate, date of new reservation
*Without advanced notice, we are not able to provide refunds for cancellations. If a walker chooses to leave a tour in progress, Hidden City will not provide refunds.

Pricing
Prices vary for each tour; see individual event description for details. All members receive 25% off tours and events, and higher level members receive complimentary tickets. Interested? CLICK HERE

Time & Distance
All tours last approximately two hours. We do start on time. We maintain a moderate walking pace, so please wear comfortable shoes and bring water if necessary. We do not stop for bathroom breaks–sorry!

Accessibility
Unfortunately, we cannot provide wheelchairs, although many of our tours are wheelchair-friendly. Additionally, we cannot guarantee that all curbs or building entrances will have ADA-compliant ramps.